The 10 Best Altra Running Shoes

Another young upstart in the world of running shoes, Altra was founded by two high school running buddies, Golden Harper and Brian Beckstead, with the goal of making shoes built for the way people naturally run.

At the Core

After testing prototypes in grueling races like the Wasatch 100, Harper and Beckstead released the Instinct (men’s) and Intuition (women’s), the first Altra shoes, in 2011. These kicks, like all the models that followed, showcased the company’s three core technologies: FootShape, ZeroDrop, and Fit4Her.

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Unbox a pair of Altras and you’ll see that the forefoot is wider than other shoes—a result of FootShape, which is an enlarged toe box that allows the foot to expand and gives the toes more space. ZeroDrop refers to the shoe’s heal-to-toe drop, or the difference in height from the heel to the forefoot. Different from most other brands, Altra shoes have little or no drop, meaning your foot lays flat rather than sloping downward from heel to toe. Finally, there’s Fit4Her, in which Altra’s women’s shoes are tailored to match the biomechanics of female feet. This means they’re narrower through the heel and midfoot and can fit women’s longer arches, for example.

A Minimalist Take on Tech

Over the past few years, shoemakers have poured resources into developing newer and better cushioning foams, and Altra is no exception. Its latest cushioning material, Altra EGO, debuted in 2016 on the Escalante and King MT shoes, and this foam blend is designed to provide superior cushion matched with good energy return. In testing, EGO also held its shape longer than older EVA foam. For runners, that means shoes equipped with EGO will be springier and last longer than older models. Altra continues to use its older A-Bound foam as well. Made of recycled material, it’s formulated to compress less readily than some options.

Altra has also developed Stabilipod and GuideRail to give runners more support. Stabilipod refers to three areas of firmer midsole material—two underneath either side of the forefoot, and one near the heel—that give extra support and balance to your feet. GuideRail is a specialized wrap that runs along the arch side of the foot where the upper meets the sole. It’s designed to keep your foot aligned in the shoe, and it helps you avoid overpronating during your stride. These features debuted in 2016 on the Provision 3.0, and they’re found in the Paradigm as well.

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Using its founders’ lifelong running experience and its three core technologies as starting ingredients, Altra has created a lineup of shoes that work with the natural mechanics of your foot and demonstrate that minimalist shoes can be great to run in. Here are some of our favorite pairs.

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesAltra’s best-selling shoe, the Escalante is a moderately cushioned, bouncy option that you can take through long distances without destroying your feet. Altra used its lightweight, responsive EGO cushioning in the midsole, which makes these shoes softer than previous models while also giving them great bounce and energy return. The latest version features a snug and comfortable fit, especially in the heel, and the upper breathes well for good temperature regulation.

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesThe Torin is one of the more approachable shoes in Altra’s lineup, especially for runners unfamiliar with minimalist running. It comes in Knit and Mesh versions (the names refer to the uppers). The Knit is heavier, and the high performance Mesh version has a breathable upper and softer cushioning in the forefoot. Both ride on a layer of A-Bound foam, which offers good bounce and shock absorption for a cushioned, comfortable foot feel. Along with the usual zero drop construction, the Torin’s outsole is designed to flex with your metatarsal joints for a natural stride.

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesThe Paradigm is Altra’s version of a stability shoe. It’s pumped up with EGO foam through the forefoot and heel for a good balance of softness and bounce, but it still won’t feel mushy or overcorrect your stride. For stability, Altra’s GuideRail wraps the medial side of the foot to counter overpronation, and StabiliPods are placed at key points on the sole to support your feet—but these features only kick in when you get tired and your form suffers. Otherwise, the Paradigm is built to conform to your natural foot movement.

Price: $90The right shoe for: Runners who want to be fleet on their feet and soar like a gazelle

Courtesy of Altra

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesWe picked the Solstice as one of the best lightweight shoes of 2018, and it’s an exceptionally versatile shoe equally at home in a 10K race or at the gym. It’s built for speed and agility, which means it’s thin, firm, and lacks major cushion, but it gets high marks for energy return and responsiveness. Its exposed EVA outsole saves weight but sacrifices traction, so think twice before heading out in the rain. Even so, the sleek mesh upper and low price point make this a nice option for an all-purpose training shoe.

Price: $130The right shoe for: Races and uptempo workouts that require a little more cushion

Courtesy of Altra

Read Full ReviewThe Duo is a little more beefed up than the Solstice, meaning it comes with extra cushion and other features the Solstice lacks. The Duo has a thicker foam midsole for added cushioning, and although it’s an ounce heavier than the Solstice, we still picked it as one of the best lightweight shoes of 2018. Blown rubber on the outsole adds durability and traction, and a reinforced heel counter creates extra stability. It’s a lightweight shoe that treats your feet well—not an easy combo to find.

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesThe Instinct (for men) and Intuition (for women) were the first shoes Altra released, and the company describes them as “do-it-all” shoes designed for running and everyday wear. With these kicks, you’ll ride on 25 millimeters of bouncy A-Bound cushioning and a full-length blown rubber outsole. The latest versions come with a stretchy mesh upper and a midfoot wrap for a lockdown fit, and they have grooves in the midsole to flex with your foot as you move. Functional and versatile, this is the shoe that helped Altra stake its claim in the running industry.

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesLight, lean, and ready for action, the Vanish-R is Altra’s purpose-built racing flat. Like other Altras, you get a zero drop platform and a roomy toe box to promote your natural stride. But at just 3.9 ounces, this unisex shoe is built for speed: It features a thin layer of EVA cushioning and a specialized “Propel Plate” made of extra-springy TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) to help you have explosive starts and strong toe-offs.

The Lone Peak was Altra’s first trail shoe, and it’s the company’s best selling trail option today. It features an A-Bound/EVA midsole that absorbs shocks but still gives a good feel for the ground, and it falls between the Olympus and King MT below in terms of softness. A flexible rock plate in the midsole guards against debris while still moving with your foot—this is an Altra shoe, after all. It features a GaiterTrap system and a durable upper, but the big draw here is the outsole: TrailClaw lugs create excellent grip.

Take one look at the burly midsole on the Olympus and you can tell it’s built for a plush ride. A generous helping of A-Bound cushioning provides padding and more energy return than you’ll get with the King MT or Lone Peak, which means you can really float in these. The Olympus has decent drop for an Altra shoe (6.6mm men’s, 5.9mm women’s), so these won’t feel as flat underfoot. Reinforced overlays on the upper add stability and protect the toe box, and a Vibram megagrip rubber outsole serves up stellar traction for the meanest trails.

Read Full ReviewMore ImagesCo-founder Brian Beckstead calls the King MT the “extreme trail shoe” in Altra’s lineup. The Vibram MegaGrip outsole comes studded with burly 6mm lugs, and it tears into muddy, rough ground with ease. A lightweight layer of EGO foam provides cushion and a rock plate in the midsole protects your foot from debris, but these are not plush shoes—you’ll definitely feel the ground. On the upper, a neoprene heel counter creates a snug hold on your foot, and a velcro strap across the laces lets you adjust the fit on the fly.

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